Speak No Evil_ A Novel - Allison Brennan [102]
Carina said, “They’re scared. They don’t think the police will believe them. They think it’s their fault. There are lots of reasons.”
Kyle’s face fell. “All stupid reasons.”
“What happened when your father was released?”
“My mother took him back. Can you believe it?”
Carina had seen it many times. Either the women were blind or stupid, scared or complicit. Or all of the above.
“The police said he disappeared. According to the interview with Regina Burns, he left after dinner on April eight, eight years ago, and never returned.”
“That’s true.”
“That was the same night as the last rape.”
“I don’t know if I knew that at the time. When the police came, my mother sent us out of the room. I was eavesdropping but didn’t catch everything. And my mother never said anything when I asked.”
“Your brother was there as well?”
“Yeah. He’s now in high school. Amazing considering he still lives with that woman.”
“That woman?”
“Our mother.”
“Do you own a computer?” Carina asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah, why?”
“Would you object to having someone from the department come down and look at it?”
He tensed. “Why?”
“We believe Angie’s killer frequented her online journal several times before her murder.”
“I didn’t even know she had one . . . wait. You don’t think I—”
Kyle jumped up, irate. “Just because my father was a damn rapist, you think I could have done that?”
“Calm down—”
“I’ve lived with the guilt of what my father did for years! I hated him. I’m glad he’s gone. I hope he’s in Hell where he belongs.”
He stormed out of the kitchen.
“Well, that certainly was interesting,” Carina said.
“Maybe it’s in the blood,” Nick said. “Shall we go talk to Mrs. Regina Burns?”
“Absolutely. She sounds like a real winner. But you know what? I think I’d like to wait until Brandon Burns gets off work, chat him up a bit.”
“He’s seventeen.”
“If he says he doesn’t want to talk, I won’t push it. Maybe we’ll see him later tonight when we talk to his mother. I’d just like to get a read on him before then.”
Nick frowned. “Burns didn’t give us permission to search his computer.”
“I noticed. I’m going to make sure the twenty-four/seven surveillance on Burns has been approved while we wait for Little Brother to leave.”
Brandon Burns walked out of the Sand Shack alone shortly after nine-thirty that night. Carina recalled seeing him the first time she visited the Shack with Will. Brandon was tall and skinny, still growing into his awkward height. He was pleasant-looking, if a bit nondescript, and well-groomed with short brown hair and pressed clothes. Carina and Nick approached and showed their police identification.
“Do you have a couple minutes to talk?” Nick asked.
“Um, sure, I guess. Do you want to go inside?”
Carina didn’t want Kyle to interrupt her conversation with Brandon. “Here’s fine. It won’t take long.”
“Okay.” He looked from Nick to Carina. “You’ve been here a couple times this week.”
Carina nodded. “Yes, we’re talking to everyone who worked with Angie. Did you know her?”
“A little.” Brandon played with the change and keys in his pocket.
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“I don’t know. Last week sometime, I guess. I think we both worked on Wednesday and I worked Friday to set up for dinner, but Kyle doesn’t want me working more than four hours a day.
“That makes sense, since you’re in high school. Don’t want your grades to slip,” Carina said. “Do you like working for your brother?”
He nodded vigorously. “Yeah. He’s really great.”
“Do you know if your father has been in contact with your brother?”
He stared at them wide-eyed. “My dad? Do you know where he is?”
Nick’s heart went out to the kid. His father, a convicted rapist. What must it be like growing up with the weight of that on your young shoulders? He’d just been a little kid when his father was in prison, then nine or ten when he disappeared.
“No, we don’t,” Carina said. “But we’re trying to find him. Has he contacted you at all in the eight years since he disappeared?”
“Me? Why?” A hint of wariness,